𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 - 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥

𝙎𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙧. 𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘴

Caitlin's POV

The final whistle blew, echoing through the stadium like a thunderclap. I stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the game settling heavily on my shoulders. Then, I saw her—Elena—jumping up in the middle of the pitch, a radiant smile lighting up her face. My heart twisted as I watched her get engulfed by Rachel and Millie, their bodies rocking back and forth as they celebrated their victory, a triumphant chorus of cheers and laughter surrounding them.

The disappointment washed over me like a cold wave. I felt a nagging sense of regret, the familiar voice in my head questioning why I hadn't pushed harder, why I hadn't found a way to change the outcome of this match. But as I continued to watch Elena, her joy seemed to radiate outwards, and suddenly, that frustration began to melt away.

Alanna and Macca walked past me, their eyes assessing the emotional fallout of the match. They exchanged a knowing glance before Macca leaned in and gave my shoulder a squeeze. "Come on, Cait, let's go find the others," she urged, trying to pull my gaze away from Elena. But I couldn't look away. I couldn't help it.

Then, as if sensing my gaze, Elena turned around. In that split second, time seemed to freeze as she spotted me. Without hesitation, she took off, running toward me with an urgency that made my heart race. I held my breath, and when she reached me, she enveloped me in a tight hug that chased away all the disappointment in an instant.

"Cait!" she exclaimes, her voice muffled against my neck. I could feel her warmth, the familiar scent of her hair filling my senses, anchoring me amidst the chaos of the moment.

"You were incredible, Elena," I manage to say, my voice thick with emotion. But even as I speak those words, I know there's a sadness lurking beneath the surface.

Elena pulls back just enough to meet my eyes, her expression serious. "You did so well, too. You represented your country with so much heart. You've made history with your team. You know that, right? You're changing lives for little girls all over Australia."

Her words strike me like a lifeline, wrapping around the disappointment like a warm embrace. I feel my heart swell with a mix of pride and pain. "But we were so close," I murmur, frustration creeping back in.

She holds my face in her hand, her thumb brushing gently against my cheek. "You can't let this define you. You're amazing, Cait. Just remember that."

As I soak in her words, I feel a surge of gratitude and admiration for the woman in front of me. Her unwavering belief in me is the one thing that could pierce through the heaviness in my chest. I pull her back into a hug, wrapping my arms around her waist, and without a thought, I press a soft kiss to her neck, careful to hide it from anyone watching.

"Go celebrate with your teammates," I whisper against her skin, the warmth of her body grounding me. "You deserve it."

Elena hesitates, the reluctance evident in her eyes. "I don't want to leave you like this," she says softly, her brow furrowing with concern.

"I'll be okay," I reassure her, forcing a smile even though my heart feels heavy. "Really. You need to enjoy this moment."

With a sigh, she finally lets go, but her hands linger on my arms for a second longer, as if she's trying to imprint the moment into her memory. "Alright. But promise me you'll come find me later?"